Deconvolving two-dimensional images of three-dimensional momentum trajectories

A deconvolution technique to eliminate the azimuthal contribution from two-dimensional (2D) images of three-dimensional momentum trajectories is presented. The technique, which in some respects is superior to Abel and similar numerical inversion methods, exploits numerical simulation to generate a 2D polar representation of the dynamics where the radius from the center of the image is proportional to the magnitude of the momentum and the angle is the ejection angle relative to the polarization axis of the laser. A sample deconvolution for the three-body Coulomb explosion of NO2 is shown. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.